Automatic phonograph



y 21, 1942. T. M. WRIGHT 2,290,518

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed July 13, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 a INVENTORATTO R N EY y 1, 1942. T. M. WRIGHT AUTOMATIC PHONOGBAPH 8 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed July 13, 1940 lNVENTOl I- W fl Z Q/ ATTORNEY y 1942- r. M.WRIGHT AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed July 15, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR BY I ATTO RNEY J 1942- T. M. WRIGHT 2,290,518

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed July 13, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 lNVENTOR v ghuz md fl I LM ATTORNEY July 21, 1942. wR|GHT 2,290,518

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed July 13, 1940 8 Sheets-Shae}: 5

0 a 5/ 67 are lNVENTOR ATTORNEY July 21, 1942. T. M. WRIGHT AUTOMATICPHONOGRAPH ENTOR 1444 ATTO 88heets-Sheet 6 g INV I BY W RNEY y 1942- T.M. WRIGHT AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed July 13, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 7INVENT OR I ATTORNEY July 21, 1942. T. M; RIGHT 2,290,518

' AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed July 13, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 #5 1/4 f fir'25 i 77(lltlVENTfJR I ATTORNEY Patented July 21, 1942 1 UNITED STATES,PATENT OFFICE 2,29o,srs I i I Theodore M. Wright, North Tonawanda, N.

assignor to The Rudolph'Wurlitzer Com North Tonawanda, N. Y.,

acorporation of Ohio 16 Claims.

This. invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inautomatic phonographs, and more particularly to a continuous, playphonograph for home or domestic use.

One of its objects is to provide a phonograph of this character which issimple, compact and inexpensive in construction, and which is designedto play a plurality of 10" or 12'-' records in succession and whereby agiven program of record selections may be automatically played fromstart to finish as many times as desired without requiring the attentionof an operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic phonographfor home use wherein the records to be played are supported in a stackon the turntable, and wherein means are provided for elevating therecords successively and individually after play to a storage orsupporting structure disposed axially over the turntable, and when thelast record on the turntabl has been played and elevated to the storagestructure means are provided for automatically releasing the storedrecords and bodily returning them to the turntable in stack-like fashionin readiness for play.

A further object is to provide simple and reliable means forautomatically effecting the successive transfer of the records as theyare played to a point spaced above the turntable where they are storedto provide an operating clearance space for the tone arm, together withautomatic means initiated by the tone arm for rendering the transfermeans operable.

A still further object is to provide an automatic phonograph of thischaracter which will play either 10" or 12" records irrespective oftheir location or arrangement in the recordstack, and wherein simple andpositive means are provided for controlling the inward swing of the tonearm into proper playing relation with either a 10" or 12" record.

Other features of the invention reside in the construction andarrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed ouin the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the phonograph embodying my invention,the parts being shown in position for playing a 10 record. Figure 2 is aside elevation thereof. Figure 3 is a top plan view of the phonograph,the parts being shown in position for playing a 10" record. Figure 4 isa horizontal section taken substantially in the plane ofrline 4-4,Figure 1. Figure 5 is a similar sectional view showing the position ofthe parts in the tone arm trip position effected after the playing of arecord. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the tone arm. controlled tripmechanism and associated parts in a position for playing a record.Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical section of one of therecord-elevating spindles shown in a position in readiness for elevatingthe last played record on the turntable. Figure 8 is a side view ofFigure 7, partly in section, showing the elevating spindle in itslowered or tripping position prior to its being elevated into engagementwith and then lowering the elevated stack of records bodily onto thetumtable. Figure 9 is a similar view, partly in section, showing theelevated stack of records being lowered onto the turntable by theelevating spindles. Figure 10 is a fragmentary top plan of one of therecord-elevating inlts lowered position preparatory to being moved intosupporting engagement beneath a record about to be elevated.- Figure 11is a fragmentary side view showing the record pick-up member of one ofthe elevating units in position preparatory to elevating a record.Figure 12 is a fragmentary vertical section of the tone arm mountingtaken substantially in the plane of line l2-l2, Figure- 3. Figure 13 isa fragmentary vertical section of the overhead record supporting meanstaken substantially in the plane of line I 3-43, Figure 3. Figure 14 isan enlarged transverse vertical section taken in the plane of line M-H,Figure 13. Figure 15 is a horizontal section taken on line l5l5, Figure14. Figure 16 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line l6l6,Figure 3.

Figure 17 is a fragmentary vertical section taken.

on the plane of line l'|--l I, Figure 3, showing the mechanism thatcontrols-the playing of a 10" or 12" record. Figure 18 is a fragmentarytop plan view, partly in section, for controlling the playing of a 10"or 12" record. Similar characters of reference indicate correspondingparts throughout the several views.

In its general organization the phonograph comprises a horizontally andvertically swinging tone arm, a turntable which is continuously rotatedin a fixed'horizontal plane and which is adapted to support a stack ofrecords thereon for successive play from top to bottom of the stack;

record-supporting means disposed above the turntable for receiving andreleasably supporting the records in stack-like arrangement after playin an overhead spaced relation to the next record to be played, wherebyto provide an operating clearance space for the movement of the tonearm; record-elevating means movable substantially parallel to theturntable axis and laterally into engagement with a record after playfor elevating and presenting it to the overhead recordsupportingmechanism; means for actuating said determined times in the playingcycle;v and means governed by the tone arm when it reaches the end ofplay of a record for initiatingsuch actuating means to-in sequence liftthe tone arm from the played record and swing it to one side of the samemechanism and the tone armat Dr the machine.

of the turntable, elevate the playedrecord to the overhead recordsupporting means, and then swing the tone arm in and down onto the nextrecord to be played. After the several records on the turntable havebeen successively played and the last played record has been elevated tocomplete the transfer of the stack of records to'the record-supportingmeans, a control means is provided which is automatically actuated andmitiated at a predetermined time by the record-elevating means forreleasing the records as a stack from the record supporting means,whereby they are lowered bodily onto the turntable for again effectingthe successive playing thereof.

The phonograph is adapted to play either or 12" records irrespective-oftheir location or arrangement in the record-stack and embodies meansgoverned by the record-elevating actuating means and the record disksfor controlling the inward swing of the tone arm into proper playingrelation with either a 10'' or 12" record.

The working parts of the phonograph are mounted on a suitable frameincluding a base plate and rising therefrom substantially centrallythereof is an upright spindle 25 to which the turntable 21 is fixed, thelower end of the spindle being connected by suitable reducing gearing toan electric motor 28 which continuously rotates the turntable duringoperation of port a plurality of superposed records 29 thereon instacklike fashion and the spindle 26 extends sufflciently above theturntable to center the records'thereon. The numeral 30 indicates a tonearm of ordinary construction which is mounted for horizontally-swingingmovement on an upright sleeve 3| journaled in a suitable bracket 32 Theturntable is adapted to supform to receive a pair of contractiblelatching,

rising from the plate 25 at one side of the tumtable and which ispivoted at 33 to swing vertically into and out of playing engagementwith the record. As shown in Figure l, the pivot 33 is disposed'asubstantial distance above the top of the turntable so that the tone armis capable of swinging downwardly mto engagement with the respectiverecords as they are successively played from top to bottom of the stack.The means for supporting the records after they are played in anelevated stack in spaced, overhead relation to the turntable, and to anyrecords borne thereby to provide an operating clearance for the tonearm, are preferably constructed as follows:

Disposed above and in opposing alined relation with theturntable-spindle 26 to form a detached continuation thereof is a recordstorage or receiving post or pin 34 adapted to receive the records afterplay in stack-like fashion, such pin being fixed at its upper end to thefree inner end of a vertically-swinging arm 35 channeled in crosssection and pivoted at 35 to a bracket 31 rising from the plate 25 atone side of the turntable. This arm has an adjusting and limiting screw38 so that the proper clearance may be maintained between the opposingends of the turntable spindle 26 and the record-receiving pin 34. Toprevent any tendency of the arm to be rocked upwardly during thetransfer of a record onto the storage'pin, a spring-urged locking plate39 is provided, which is pivoted at 40 to the bracket 31 immediatelybelow the arm-pivot 36 and has a tooth or shoulder 4| normally engaginga companion shoulder 42 projecting downwardly from the arm 35, as shownin Figure 16.

The spring associated with the latching plate normally urges its tooth4| into register with the mating tooth." to prevent an upward movementof the arm 35 and its pin 34. A finger-tab 43 is provided on the freeend of the locking plate so that it may be shifted downwardly againstthe tension of the spring to disengage the teeth 4|, 42 and allow thearm 35 and its record-receiving pin 34 to be raised to the properelevation to facilitate the application and removal of the records toand from the turntable 21.

The record-receiving pin is adapted to releasably retain the recordsthereon as they are transferred from the turntable thereto, and to thisend this pin is preferably of hollow ortubular fingers 45 pivotedintermediate their ends at 48 crosswise of the pin and terminating attheir lower ends indownwardly-tapering heads 41 which project outwardlythrough companion slots 48 disposed at diametrically opposite sides ofthe lower portion of the pin. These heads terminate at their upper endsin horizontal shoulders 49 upon which the lowermost record applied tothe pin is adapted to rest, that is, the marginal edge of the recordabout the record hole rests upon these shoulders. When contracted, thefingerheads enter the hollow portion of the pin 34 to enable the recordto be passed over the pin. At their upper ends these fingers areprovided with springs 50 which tend constantly to urge them to theirexpanded supporting position shown in Figure 14.

The elevating means for automatically lifting the records one at a timeafter play into their stacked storage position on the record-receivingpin 34, ispreferably constructed as follows:

Disposed at diametrically oDPQsite sides of the brackets 52 rising fromthe base plate 25 and which are provided at their upper ends withradially disposed, combined spindle-limiting and clutching members 53arranged to abut flatwise against the top side of the top record on theturntable and functioning at one time as a gage or stop to limit thedownward travel of the spindle so as to properly position the elevatingmeans at a proper elevation to operatively engage the next record to betransferred from the turntable to the overhead storage position on thepin 34. Disposed in cooperating relation with the spindle-limitingmembers 53 and axially spaced therefrom a distance approximately equalto the thickness of a record are companion radiallydisposed recordpick-up members 54 which may be slightly champfered at their peripheraledges so as readily to enter between the record to be elevated and thatrecord immediately beneath it. By preference, the limiting members 53are fixed adjacent the upper ends of their companion spindles 5| whilethe cooperating record pick-up members 54 are pivoted at 55 toupstanding lugs 55 rising from said limiting members, the inner portionsof the pick-up members having an opening 51 therein which is larger indiameter than the elevating spindle toenable the pick-up members to havea limited vertical displacement relative to the companion limitingmember. A spring 58 associated with each of the pick-up members 54 andconnected at one end thereto and at its opposite end to the companionlimiting member 53, serves to yieldingly resist displacement of thelimiting members 53 for abutting engagement with the companion pick-upmember to facilitate the proper spacing between these members.

When the combined spindle-limiting and clutching members 53 on the downstroke of their spindles abut the marginal top side of the uppermostthese members and hence to their spindles, due

to the friction between the record and such members, thereby causing thelatter to be swung clear of the record stack and at the same time swingthe companion pick-up members 54 into supporting engagement beneath thetop record on the turntable and that record'immediately-beneath it, sothat when the spindles are subsequently elevated, that top record whichat such time has been played will be lifted and presented to the recordstorage pin 34. After the lowermost record on the turntable has beenplayed and before it is elevated to a corresponding position in theoverhead storage stack and in the subsequent cycle of operatiohs whichfollow, the spindle-limiting and clutching members 53, on

the downstroke of their spindles, abut the marginal top side of thatrecord to effect a rotation of the spindle-bearing members 53 and 54 tothe position shown in Figure 8 for the purpose of initiating, at thatelevation of those members, the actuation of a mechanism to behereinafter described for effecting the replacement of the overheadstack of records as a unit onto the turntable.

The elevating movements of the spindles 5| are preferably controlled byvertically-swinging rock levers 60 applied to the ends of a horizontalshaft 6| journaled in suitable bearings 62 applied to the underside ofthe frame-plate 25, the top sides of the free ends of these leversabutting the lower ends of the spindles in the manner shown in Figures1, '7 and 8. This shaft is adapted to be rocked in opposite directionsat predetermined times to effect the raising and lowering of thespindles 5| and to this end a crank arm 63 is fixed on said shaft and isconnected by a link or pitman 54 with a crank-pin 65 applied to anintermittently rotatable cam 65 journaled on an upright stub-shaft 61. l

After a played record has been elevated onto the receiving pin 34, thespindles 5| remain elevated during the playing of the next record andspindle members 53 and 54 assume the positions shown in Figures 1 and 3with the pick-up member 54 still disposed beneath the bottom record inthe elevated stack. During the lowering movement of the spindlespreparatory to picking up the played record, a counter-clockwisemovement is imparted to these spindles for swinging the pick-up members54 outwardly clear of the peripheries of the records but in adjoiningedgewise relation thereto, and for bringing the limiting members 53inwardly to a point over the marginal top side of the top record on theturntable. Forthis purpose, each spindle 5| is provided with alongitudinal groove which includes an upper -movement relative theretoin'a socket 12 formed between the spindle bracket 52 and the plate ofthe chassis-frame, as shown in'Figures v'7 and 9. In its periphery the.disk 1| has a locking notch 13 with which a pivoted, spring-pressed pawl14 is adapted to engage for normally preventing rotation of the disk ina clockwise direction. In the elevated position of each spindle, shownin Figure 9, the lower end of the spiral portion of its groove isiii-register with the diskkey 10, so that during theinitial downstrokeof the spindle it is turned relatively to the disk in acounter-clockwise direction to release the pickup member-54 from therecord and present the gauge or limiting member 53 into the marginalplane of the top record on the turntable. During this partial rotationof the spindle, the pawl I4 holds the washer against rotation in aclockwise direction, When the gauge member 53 strikes the marginal'faceof the rotating top record on the turntable, it being understood thatthe turntable rotates continuously during the operation of thephonograph, the frictional contact therewith causes the .tuming of thespindle in a counter-clockwise direction, the pawl per- I mitting thedisk H to turn bodily or as a unit with the spindle to bring the pick-upmember 54 beneath the record to be elevated. At this time, the disk-key1.0 is engaged with the straight portion 68 of the spindle-groove, sothat during the subsequent elevating movement of the spindle the keyfirst ridesin the straight portion of the spindle-groove and during thelast portion of the upward travel the key rides in the spiral portion 69of the groove and turns in a counter.-

clockwise direction relative to the spindle until the pawl I4 drops intothe notch 13 which ocl pivot or fulcrum for this lever.

straight portion 68 and a spiral portion 69 which extends approximatelyhalfway around the spindle; Arranged to cooperate with this slot is akey 10 formed on a disk or washer loosely fitted about the spindle andheld against endwise curs when the spindles 5| reach their full upwardtravel, and during this full up-stroke the record pick-up and gaugemembers 53 and 54, respectively, remain in their last projectedposition.

Attention is here called to the fact that after the'lowermost record onthe turntable has been lifted to the bottom of the stack of thoserecords in storage position on the pin 34, the spindles 5| are preventedfrom rotation on the down stroke during the lowering of the stack ofrecordsto their initial position on the turntable, and at this time thepawls 14 are held out of engagement with their companion disks 1| sothat on the downstroke of the spindles there is no rotation imparted tothem but they merely travel downwardly with their pick-up members 54maintained in supporting engagement with the records. Ihe means forgoverning the movement prior to the lowering'of the overhead stack backonto the turntable so as to control the nonrotating lowering movement ofthe elevating spindles 5| is-preferablyconstructed as follows:

Projecting radially from' and fixed to each of the spindle-bearingbrackets 52 is an arm 15 in which is guided a vertically-displaceablerod 16 having a flat portion 11 extending lengthwise thereof on which ismounted a horizontallyswinging lever 18, the rod constituting a movableA spring I9 coiled about the rod between a collar there on, whichnormally abuts the underside of the,

guide arm 15, and the top side of the lever 18 normally urges the rod tothe position shown in Figures 1, 6 and 9, in-which elevated position itfunctions to limit the turning of the companion spindle 5| and itsrecord-engaging members 53, 54 during the movement'of the limitingmember 53 from engagement with the record and the simultaneousprojection of the pick-up member 54 into engagement beneath the record.Projecting [mm the lever 78 is a lug 8| which, when the lever is swungfrom the position shown in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figure 5,is adapted to abut the companion pawl 14 and release it from latchingengagement with the corresponding disk H, in which position of the partsthe elevating spindles 5| are prevented from turning during their downstroke when restoring the overhead stack of records to the turntable.

The means for initiating the movement of, the pawls 14 to their releasedposition is shown clearly in Figures 4, 5 and 6 and consists of avertically-swinging trip lever 82 pivoted intermediate its ends at 83 toone of the bearing brackets 52 below the guide arm 15 thereof andextending at its upper end through a slot 84 provided in such arm. Theupper end of this trip lever is disposed in the path of turning of thecompanion spindle-limiting member 53 at the lowermost end of the strokeof the spindle 5|, that is, the downstroke defined by the bottom recordon the turntable, as shown in Figures '7 and 8, so that when said memberis displaced from contact with such bottom record to bring the companionpick-up member 54 intosupporting engagement therewith, such limitingmember will abut the upper end of the trip lever 82 and rock it in adirection to in turn present its lower end into engagementwith andactuate a horizontally-swinging rock lever 85 from the position shown inFigure 4 to the position shown in Figure 5. A spring 88 connected tothis rock lever normally urges it and the trip lever 82 to the positionshown in Figures 1, 4 and 6. The companion levers 18 are connected toeach other for movement in unison by links 81, 88 and an interposed rocklever 89. At its inner end the rock lever 85 terminates in an upstandinglug 99 which is normally disposed substantially in registering, abuttingrelation with the vertex of the V-shaped end SI of ahorizontally-shiftable cam plate 92 pivoted intermediate its ends at 93to the top of the base plate 25 and connected at itsouter end by a tiebar 94 to the. link 81, so that when this cam plate is shifted in onedirection or the other corresponding movements are transmittedto thelinkage assembly 81, 88 and 89 and thence to the pawlgoverning leversl8. Mounted on the shaft 8| is a crank arm 95 to which is connected apitman 96 which overlies the cam plate 92 and is guided at its innerfree end in a slotted plate 91, shown in Figures 1 and 5. Dependingdownwardly from this pitman is a pin 98 which is adapted to trav- -'ersethe V-shaped end 9| of the cam plate and at a predetermined time in theoutward stroke of the pitman transmit motion to the cam plate to in turnrock the levers- I8 in a direction to release the pawls 14 from theircompanion disks II. A spring 99 connected to the free end of this pitmanconstantly urges it in a direction to maintain the pin 98 in contactwith one side or the other of the V end of the cam plate. At itsopposite side edges the V-shaped end 9| of this plate has stop shouldersI90 with one or the other of which the pitman-pin 98 is adapted toengage at predetermined times in the cycle of operations. In theposition of the parts shown in Figures 4 and 6, the rock lever lug 90 issubstantially abutting the vertex of the cam end of the plate 92 so thaton the in-stroke of the pitman 96 its pin 98 merely travels along theadjoining side of the cam portion 9| and the contiguous side of the lug,the latter preventing a lateral displacement or the pitman-pin to theopposite side of such cam portion, so that in this position of the partsthere is a mere idling of the pitman without any transmission of motionto the cam plate 92. This action takes place during all the recordchanging operations excepting that one wherein the last record iseffected. However, in the position of the parts shown in Figure 5, therock lever 85 is in such position that its lug 90 is displaced from thevertex end of the cam plate so as to permit a lateral spring-urgeddisplacement of the pitman 95 at the end of its inward stroke and causeits pin 98 to travel around the vertex of the cam 9| into traversingengagement with the opposite side thereof. On the outward stroke of thepitman, which takes place during the upstroke of the record-elevatingspindles 5|, the pin 98 encounters the adjoining stop shoulder III.

on the cam plate and causes the latter to be rocked from the positionshown in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figure 5, during which timeit transmits motion to the linkage 81, 88 and 89, and accordingly rocksthe levers 18, into their pawl-releasing position, this action taking Iplace duringthe elevation of the bottom record on the turntable to itselevated position in the overhead stack. On the subsequent'inward strokeof the pitman, which takes place during the downstroke of therecord-elevating spindles, and at which time the stack .is bodilylowered onto the turntable-by reason of the record-engaging fingers 45on the storage pin 34 having been,

previously to the start of the down-stroke, autoto interfere with thesubsequent elevating stroke.

of the spindles. Thereafter, on the outward stroke of the pitman, whichtakes place during the up-stroke of the elevating spindles, thepitman-pin travels along the rear edge of the V- shaped nose andencounters the companion shoulder I08, causing the cam plate 92 to beshifted from the position shown in Figure 5 to its initial or normalposition shown in Figure 4, thereby restoring the pawls 14 into latchingengagement with the companion spindle-disks 'H,

so that upon the next down-stroke of the spindles, the latter willoperate normally again to swing the pick-up members 5| out of arecord-supporting position and the limiting members 53 into recordcontacting position during the recordchanging cycles.

During the turning of the spindle-members 54 clear of the record-stackwhen such stack is deposited as a unit on the turntable, it is necessaryto depress the companion stop rods 18 below the plane of thespindle-limiting members 53, sov

that the latter can turn with their spindles. For this purpose, each rodhas a tappet pin I6 projecting laterally from its lower end which isdisposed in the'path of the downward swing of the adjoiningspindle-elevating arm 80 at such time arm 60, as shown in Figures 1, 2and 3. and is only projected into its path when the rod 16 has beenturned by its companion lever 18 to a position to release the pawl -14from its spindle-disk I I, as shown in Figures 5 and 9.

The means for automatically contracting and releasing therecord-engaging fingers 45 on the record storage pin 34 prior tolowering the elevated stack as a unit back onto the turntable ispreferably constructed as follows:

Guided for movement in a direction radially of the turntable on theunderside of the storage pin supporting arm 35 is a shiftable bar IOIwhich is provided at its inner end with a V-shaped notch I02 whose edgesengage lugs I03 formed at the upper ends of the latching fingers, asshown in Figures 13 and 14. This bar may be guided in any appropriatefashion on the supporting arm 35 and has a spring I04 connected theretofor normally urging it outwardly from engagement with the fingerlugsI03. When this bar is shifted inwardly, it causes the fingers to becontracted so that their shouldered-heads 41 are contained within thearea of the tubular pin 34 to enable the records to be removedtherefrom.

The shifting of the bar IN, to effect the release of the fingers 45 fromsupporting engagement with the records on the pin 34, is initiatedduring the release of the pawls 14 from their companion spindle-disks Hand to this end I provide a vertically-swinging lever I05 pivotedintermediate its ends at I06 to th arm-bracket 31, the upper end of suchlever abutting a depending lip I01 formed on the outer end of the bar.This lever is actuated in a direction to project the shiftable bar IOIinwardly during the movement of the link 81 to its pawl-releasingposition through the medium of a horizontallyswinging rock arm I08connected at one end by a link I09 to the link 81 and at its other endto a yieldable link I I joined to the lower end of the lever I05. Bythis construction, when the link 61 is moved to its pawl-releasingposition, the shiftable bar IOI is moved to its finger-contractingposition, so that the elevated records will freely ride off the pin 34.During the act of restoring the pawls 14 to their normal position thelink 81 accordingly restores the shiftable bar IM to its releasedposition, allowing the record-engaging fingers 45 to be spring-urgedoutwardly to their record-supporting position.

The means for transmitting motion to the cam 66 in a counter-clockwisedirection, viewing Figures 3, 4 and 5, at predetermined times toautomatically govern the elevating movements of the spindles as well asto control the movements of the tone arm to and from play position, areconstructed as follows:

The turntable spindle 26 has a pinion III formed thereon with which agear II2, loosely mounted on the stub-shaft 61 and forming a part of orfixed to the cam 66, is adapted to in termittently mesh when arecord-changing operation is effected. The stub-shaft is fixed to ahorizontally-shiftable plate H3, of substantially triangular shape inplan, which rests on the top side of the base plate 25 and which ispivoted at one end at II4 thereto and guided at its other end for alimited pivoting movement by a pin and slot connection H5. A spring H6is connected to the free end of this plate and tends normally to shiftit together with the combined cam 66 and gear H2 in -a direction tobring the latter into meshing engagement with the pinion III, as shownin Figure 5, and in which position the parts are in record-changingposition. For

each record-changing cycle the cam makes one revolution, during whichtime thetone arm .30 is lifted from the played record and swung to aposition at one side or the turntable, the elevating spindles III arelowered and then raised ,to pick up the played record and elevate itonto the overheadrecord-supporting pin 34, and the tone arm then swunginwardly and lowered onto the playing groove of the next top record onthe turntable stack. 1

When the tone arm reaches the end of playing a given record, itinitiates a mechanism for causing the gear II2 to be brought intoengagement with the driving pinion III to transmit motion to the cam 66.This mechanism consists of a segmental plate I" fixed to the lower endvof the tone arm bearing-sleeve 3! to swing horizontally therewith andhaving at one edge thereof a depending lug II8 adapted to engage ahorizonally-swinging latching lever II9 during the final reed-in strokeof the tone arm, as when the Y stylus encounters the eccentric terminalgroove of the record. This latching lever is pivoted at I20 to the baseplate 25 and has a spring I2I connected thereto for normally urging itto its latched position and includes arms I22, I23, the arm I22including al ug I24 having an adjusting screw I25 mounted thereon whichis adapted to be engaged by the segmental plate-lug H8 at apredetermined time in the inward movement 01' the tone arm. Thecompanion arm I23 has a notch or latching shoulder I 26 in one edgethereof and a depending stop pin I21 inwardly thereof. The numeral I28indicates a horizontallyswinging trip lever having three arms I29, I30and I3I, the arm I29 having an upstanding lug I32 adapted to interlockwith the notch I26 of the latching lever H9 in the gear-releasing orrecord-playing position of the parts as shown in Figure 4. The arm I30has a notch or shoulder I33 in its inneredge which is disposed in thepath of travel of a lug I34 projecting from one arm of a fulcruminglever I35 located between the cam 66 and the shiftable plate H3 andpinned or otherwise secured to the cam or gear II2 to rotate therewith.A spring I36 is connected to the three-arm trip lever I28 for normallyurging it into latching engagement with the latching lever I I9, asshown in Figures 4 and 6. During a record-changing cycle the arm I3I ofthe trip lever I28 is disposed in the path of rotation of thefulcriuning lever-lug I34, so that at the end of travel of a singlerevolution of the cam 66 such lever is restored from the position shownin Figure 5 to the latched position shown in Figures 4 and v6, andwherein the lug I32 on said lever I28 is latched behind the shoulder I26of the latching memberi I9. Upon the leverlug I34 abutting and latchingbehind the shoulder I33 on the arm'l30 of the lever I28, a fulcrumingaction is transmitted to the lever I35 to cause a lateral displacementof such lever and the shiftable plate II3 to effect the release of thegear I I2 from the pinion III. The parts remain in this position duringthe playing of a record.

The initial turning movement of the cam 66 .purpose an elevating pin I31extends axially through the tonearm sleeve 3| and is provided at itsupper end with a tappet arm I33 which is adapted, when the pin islifted, to contact the tone arm outwardly of the pivot 33 and elevatethe tone arm from the full line position to the dotted line positionshown in Figure 13. The lower end of this elevating pin normally restsupon the contiguous top side of a lever I39 pivoted intermediate itsends at I40 for horizontal swinging movement and having a spring I4Iconnected thereto for urging it in a direction to bring a locking notchI42 provided therein into latching engagement with a pin I43 applied tothe fulcruming lever I35. Extending laterally from that end of the leverI36 on which the elevating pin I 31 normally rests, is an elevating camor upwardly-offset lug I44 which is adapted, when said lever is rockedin a direction towards the pin, to present its cam thereto to elevatethe pin and in turn lift the tone arm from the record. When the tone armeffects the tripping of the mechanism to transmit motion to the cam 66,the lever I35 is rotated with the cam and its :pin I43 is released fromthe lever I39, thereby causing the spring I4I to rock such lever in adirection to bring its cam I44 beneath the elevated pin I31andautomatically lift the tone arm 01! the record.

After a record has completed its play and the tone arm trips themechanism for initiating the movement of the cam 66, the outwardv swingof the tone arm to its initial or non-play position is efiected by ahorizontally-swinging bell crank lever I45 fulcrumed at I46 adjacent theperiphery of the cam and having its arm I41 disposed in the path oftravel of the cam, while its companion arm I46 is coupled by a pin andslot connection I40, I50 with the adjoining end of the segmental .plateII1 which swings with the tone arm. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the cam66 has a gap or passage therein through which the arm I41 may extendduring the gradual inswing of the tone arm while playing a record, sothat when the cam is actuated to initiate the record-changing operation,it encounters such arm and rocks the lever I45 and the plate Ill in adirection to swing the tone arm to non-play position, the cam retainingthe parts in such position until its gap registers with the arm I41.Also constituting a part of the bell crank lever I45 to swing therewithis a third arm II whose free end has a lateral stop lug I52 thereonarranged to abut a companion stop l-ug I53 formed on an independent,parallel-swinging lever I54 pivotedon the fulcrum I46 and governing theinward swing of the tone arm for proper playing register with theplaying groove of the record. A spring I55 connected to said lever I54normally urges it against an adjustable stop screw I56, in whichposition the lever-lug I53 is properly set for controllingtheregistration of the tone arm stylus with the start of the playing grooveof a record. During the time that the bell crank arm I41 is in contactwith the cam 66, the tone arm is positioned outwardly of the 10" recordand the lever I54 is retained by the arm I5I against the tension of thespring I55 in its maximum inward position and out of contact with thscrew I56, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 5. As soon as the arm I41drops off the cam and into the gap formed therein, assuming a 10" recordis the next record to be played, the spring I55 swings thearm I 54outwardly against the 10" record governing stop screw I56 andaccordingly swings the bell crank lever I45 in a direction to properlyposition the tone ar-m stylus over the starting point of the playinggroove of such 10" record.

When 12" records are promiscuously interspersed with 10" records in therecord stack, a means is provided for pre-determining the position ofthe tone arm for playing the larger diameter record, such means ineffect limiting or preventing the in-swing of the tone arm as isnecessarily required for registering its stylus with the start of theplaying groove of the records of smaller diameter. The position of theparts which govern the playing of a 12" record is shown by dotted linesin Figures 2 and 18, wherein the arm I54 is in a position correspondingto that wherein the tone arm stylus is in registration with the start ofthe playing groove of such record, and to prevent said arm swingingoutwardly in contact with the 10 record governing screw I56, I employ ameans for latching the arm I54 in such position. This means ispreferably constructed as follows:

Disposed for releasable latching engagement with a pin I51 dependingfrom the outer end of I the lever I54 is a horizontally-swinginglatching The other arm of this latching lever is connected by a link I6Iwith a horizontally-swinging plate I62 fixed to the lower end of asleeve I63 disposed adiacent one corner of the bracket 31 and having apin I64 depending therefrom which is guided in an arcuate slot I65formed in the base plate 25. Extending through this sleeve for verticalreciprocating movement relative thereto as well as for rotative movementtherewith is a post I66 which is provided at its upper end with a padI61 adapted for facial engagement with the marginal top side of atwelve-inch record in the record stack. The lower end of this post restsupon the free end of a vertically-swinging lever I68 loosely fulcrumedon the shaft 6I at a point between the companion levers 60 and having aspring I69 connected thereto for constantly urging it and the post I 66to the elevated position shown by dotted lines in Figure 1.7. Fixed onthe shaft 6| adjoining the lever 58- is a crank arm I10 having aspring-pressed pawl I1I pivoted thereto which, during an upward swingingmovement of the levers 60 in transferring a played record to a storageposition above the record stack on the turntable, is adapted to engage atooth I12 formed on the fulcrum end of the lever I68 to in turn depressthe latter and permit its associated post I66 to drop by gravity to thefull line position shown in Figure 17. Should there be a twelve-inchrecord in the stack on the turntable, the pad I61 will be intercepted bysuch record and arrest the further lowering movement of the post. In theevent that there be one or more ten-inch records disposed above thetwelve-inch record, the free end of the pad I61 will encounter theperiphery of the record immediately above the twelve-inch record andthereby prevent any rotative movement being imparted to the pad I 61 dueto its frictional contact with the twelve-inch record. However, when noteninch record is present to arrest such movement, the pad I61 will becaused, due to its frictional engagement with a twelve-inch record, toswing inwardly. Applied to the post intermediate its ends is a radialpin I13 extending into a longitudinal slot I14 in the sleeve I63, sothat when the pad I61 is swung 'inwardlyby frictional contact with atwelve-inch record, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 18, a like motionwill be transmitted to the sleeveand the plate I62 to in turn rock thelatching lever I58 into latching engagement with the pin I51 on thelever I54, thereby setting the parts in proper position for playing atwelve-inch record. The presence of a '10" record on a 12" record,however, will defeat any operative latching stroke being transmitted tothe parts because the edge of such record will prevent the necessaryturning movement being imparted to the pad I81.

During the lowering strokes of the levers 60, a means is provided forautomatically releasing the latching lever. I58 fromits position forpredetermining the playing of a 12" record. To this end a radial pin I15on the shaft 6I is adapted at a predetermined time in the down stroke ofthe levers 60 to encounter one arm of a trip lever I16 pivotedintermediate its ends at I11 and having its other arm arranged in thepath of a tooth or projection I18 projecting from the tie bar IBI. Asthe trip leveris rocked by the shaft-pin I15, it causes the link IN tobemoved in a direction to rock the latching lever I58 to the releasedposition shown by full lines in Figures 4 and 18.

For the purpose of governing the rotative movements of the post I66 tobring its pad I61 into and out of registration with a 12" record, thesleeve-slot I14 terminates at its upper end in a spiral portion I19, sothat on the upstroke of the levers 60 in elevating a played record toits overhead stacked position, the lever I68 is swung downwardly toallow the post I66 to drop by gravity from the dotted line position tothe full line position shown in Figure 17, during which time thepost-pin I13 traverses the spiral portion of the sleeve-slot and causesthe post to turn on its axis to present the pad I61 over the marginalplane of a 12" record, as shown by full lines in Figures 17 and 18. Onthe downstroke of the levers 60, the lever I68 is rocked upwardly by itsspring I69 to elevate the post to the dotted line position shown inFigure 17, and during the tail end of such movement the post-pin I13traverses the spiral portion I19 of the sleeve-slot and causes the postto turn in the opposite direction to swing the pad I61 clear of .12record to the position shown in Figure 3, so as not to interfere withthe restoring stroke of the elevated record-stack back onto theturntable.

I claim as my invention:

1. A phonograph of the character described, comprising a turntable forsupporting a stack of records to be reproduced while thereon from top tobottom of the stack, means disposed in overhead relation to theturntable for releasably supporting the records in stack-likearrangement after play, means successively engageable with the recordsfor individually elevating them to a stacked position on said overheadsupporting for supporting a stack of records to bereproduced thereon,record supporting means disposed in overhead relation to the turntablefor releasably receiving and retaining the records as they are played instack-like fashion, elevating means disposed in correlation with'theturntable and overhead support and operatively engageable with therecords as they 'are successively played from the top to the bottom ofthe stack to transfer them to said overhead support and after all therecords have been played to restore them as a stack to the turntable,and means governed by said elevating means at a predetermined time inthetransfer of the last-played record for releasing the records from theoverhead supporting means to permit the lowering of the elevated.

stack onto the turntable.

3. In an automatic phonograph, a turntable for supporting a stack ofrecords to be reproduced thereon, record supporting means disposed inoverhead relation to the turntable for releasably receiving andretaining the records as they are played in stack-like fashion, meansdisposed for elevating movement between the turntable and the, overheadsupport and having members thereon movable at predetermined times to and.from record-engaging positions for transferring the recordsindividually after play to said support and collectively after all areplayed as a stack back to the turntable, mechanism for actuatingsaidelevating means upon completion of the playing of a record includingmeans operatively connected to the record-engaging members for governingtheir movement to and from a recordengaging position, and means governedby said elevating means-at a predetermined time in the transfer of thelast-played record for releasing said overhead supporting means from therec- 'ords retained thereon to effect their restoration bysaid elevatingmeans as a stack onto the turntable.

4. In an automatic phonograph, a turntable for supporting a stack ofrecords to be successively reproduced thereon from the top to the bottomof the stack, means operable upon the completion of the reproduction ofthe records and successively engageable therewith for elevating them toa storage position in overhead spaced relation to the turntable, 'meansspaced above the turntable for releasably supporting the records as astack in such storage position, mechanism connected with said elevatingmeans and rendered operable upon the completion of a reproduction toelevate the reproduced record to its storage position and, after thelast record is played and elevated, to lower the reproduced records as astack from their storage position back onto the turntable, and meansgoverned by said elevating means at a predetermined time in the transferof the lastplayedrecord for releasing the records from the overheadsupporting means to permit the lowering of the elevated stack onto theturntable.

5. In an automatic phonograph, a turntable for supporting a stack ofrecords to be reproduced While supported thereon, a record supportingmeans including releasable elemen'ts disposed above said turntable forreceiving and retaining the records after play in stack-likearrangement, means operatively engageable with the records fortransferring each record after play from the top of the turntable-stackto said supporting means and, after all the records are played, as astack from the supporting means onto the tumtable, mechanism connectedwith said transferring means and rendered operable upon the completionof a reproduction to present the reproduced record to said supportingmeans and after the last record is played to present the reproducedrecords as a stack back onto the turntable, and means operativelyconnected to the releasable elements of said supporting means and ingoverning relation to the record-transfer means for automaticallyactuating them in a record-releasing position at a predetermined time inthe operation of said transfer means.

6. In an automatic phonograph, a turntable for supporting a stack ofrecords to be reproduced thereon, record supporting means disposed inoverhead relation to the turntable for receiving and supporting therecords in stack-like arrangement after play, said means including amember in axial alinement with the turntable and having detents thereonfor releasable supporting engagement with the records as they arepresented thereto, record elevating means engageable with the records asthey are successively played from top to bottom of the stack to transferand present them to said overhead supporting means and after all therecords have been played and transferred to lower and restore them as astack onto the turntable, mechanism for actuating said elevating meansupon the completion of playing a record, and means operatively connectedto said record-engaging detents, and governed by said elevating means ata predetermined time in the transfer of the lastplayed record, forreleasing the detents from their record supporting position to permitthe lowering of the elevated stack onto the turn table. 7. In anautomatic phonograph, a turntable for supporting a stack of records tobe reproduced thereon, record supporting means disposed in overheadrelation to the turntable for receiving and supporting the records instack-like arrangement after play, said means including avertically-displaced arm disposed in spaced relation' to the turntableand provided at one end with a pendant, record-receiving post insubstantially axial alinement with the turntable and having detent meansthereon for releasable engagement with the records as they are presentedthereto, record elevating means engageable with the records'as they aresuccessively played from the top to the bottom of the stack to transferand present them to said post and after all the records have been playedand transferred to lc-wer and restore them as a stack onto theturntable. mechanism for actuating said elevating means upon thecompletion of playing a record, and means operatively connected to saiddetent means for automatically releasing them from supporting engagementwith the overhead stack when the last record on the turntable has beenplayed.

8. In a phonograph, a turntable to receive a stack of records for play,a support disposed in overhead spaced relation to the turntable forreceiving arid releasablyretaining the records thereon as a stack afterplay, record elevating mechanism disposed in correlation with theturntable and overhead support for transferring the records individuallyafter play to said support and as a stack from the support to theturntable after the records have been played, said mechanism including amember movable into matically positioning said member to effect theelevation of the record and out of engagement therewith after itselevation to the overhead supengagement with a reproduced record forautoport, and means operatively connected'to said elevating mechanismfor rendering it inoperative to move said member out of engagement withthe elevated stack of records after the last record has been played andelevated and during the lowering of such stack onto the turntable.

9. In a phonograph, a turntable to receive a stack of records for play,a support disposed in overhead spaced relation to the turntable forreceiving and releasably retaining the records thereon as a stack afterplay, record elevating mechanism disposed in correlationwith theturntable and overhead support for transferring the records individuallyafter play to said support and as a stack from the support to theturntable after the records have been played, said elevating mechanismincluding a plurality of spindles guided for vertical and rotativemovements, members applied to said spindles for movement therewith intoand out of supporting engagement with a record or the overhead stack ofrecords, means operatively engageable with said spindles for controllingtheir vertical and rotative movements, and means operatively connectedwith said last-named means for rendering its'rotative action inoperativeafter the last record played has been elevated and during the loweringof the elevated stack onto the turntable.

10. In a phonograph, a turntable to receive a stack of records for play,a standard disposed at one side of. the turntable, an arm pivoted tosaid standard in spaced overhanging relation to the turntable andprovided at its free end with a pendant post in axial alinement withsaid turntable for receiving records therefrom after they are played,pivoted dogs mounted on said post engageable at their lower ends withthe records about their spindle-openings for releasably retaining themin stacked arrangement on the post and extending at their upper endsinto said pivoted arm, means applied to said standard for releasablelatching engagement with said arm to normally retain it in asubstantially horizontal position, and means applied in part to said armand operatively connected to said dogs foractuating them to a releasedposition.

11. A mechanism for transferring records individually and successivelyas they are played from a stack arrangement on a turntable to a stackedstorage position displaced therefrom and as a stack from such storageposition back onto the turntable, comprising rotative elevating membersdisposed in operative relation to the turntable and movable atpredetermined times into and out of supporting engagement with therecord on the turntable for successively elevating them after play tothe stacked storage position, means operatively connected to saidmembers for controlling their rotation at predetermined times to andfrom cooperative engagement with a record and for transmitting a downand up stroke thereto during each record-transferring cycle and meansoperatively connected to said lastnamed means for rendering its rotativeaction inoperative after the last record played has been elevated andduring the lowering of the records as a stack onto the turntable.

12. In an automatic phonograph, a turntable for supporting a stack ofrecords tobe reproduced while supported thereon, the turntable having arecord-centering spindle rising therefrom for the records thereon, abracket overhanging the turntable and its stack of records in spacedrelation thereto and having a post depending therefrom in axialalinement with the turntable-spindle for receiving the records instack-like fashion after play, releasable means on said depending postfor supporting the played records thereon until all the records on theturntable have been reproduced, elevating means engageable with eachrecord after play for discarding it after play from the top of the stackon the turntable and transferring it onto said post in supportingengagement with the releasablesupporting means thereon, and meansoperatively connected to said releasable supporting means for releasingthe latter from the overhead stack of played records to permit thelowering of such stack at a predetermined time in the transfer of thelast-played record on the turntable.

13. In an automatic phonograph, a turntable adapted to support aplurality of superposed records thereon, a post disposed in axial spacedrelation above the turntable having releasable detents thereon forsupporting the records in stacklike fashion on said post after play,said detents having shoulders thereon engageable with the lowest recordof such stack about the axial opening thereof, record-elevating meansmovable at given, predetermined times into engagement with a record onthe turntable for elevating and presenting it to said post and insupporting engagement with its detents, said elevating means at anothertime lowering and returning the played stack of records onto theturntable, and

means operatively connected to said detents for releasing them fromsupporting engagement with the played stack of records at apredetermined time to efiect the automatic lowering of such 'stack bysaid elevating means back onto the turntable.

14. In a phonograph, a turntable to receive a stack of records for play,a support disposed in overhead spaced relation to the'turntable forreceiving and releasably retaining the records thereon as a stack afterplay, record elevating mechanism disposed in correlation with theturntable and overhead support for transferring the records individuallyafter play to said support and as a stack from the support to theturntable after the records have been played, said elevating mechanismincluding a plurality of spindles guided for vertical and rotativemovements, a.

pair of members applied to each spindle and spaced axially thereof adistance approximately equal to the thickness of a record, one of themembers of a pair constituting a combined stop and clutching member forabutting engagement with the marginal top side of the uppermost recordon the turntable to limit the downward travel of the spindle at theproper elevation for transferring such recordand for imparting rotativemovement to the spindle in one direction from the rotation of theengaged record, and the companion member constituting a pick-up memberadapted to enter between the record to be elevated and that recordimmediately beneath it upon said clutching member engaging such recordto be elevated, and means operatively engageabl'e with said spindles forcontrolling their vertical movements and their rotation in a directionto present said members atpredetermined times to and from cooperativeengagement with a record.

15. In a phonograph, a turntable to receive a stack of records for play,a support disposed in overhead spaced relation to the turntable forreceiving and releasably retaining the records thereon as a stack afterplay, record elevating mechanism disposed in correlation with theturntable and overhead support for transferring the records individuallyafter play to said support and as a stack from the support to theturntable after the records have been played, said elevating mechanismincluding a ,plurality of spindles guided for vertical androtativemovements, a air of members'applied to each spindle and spacedaxially thereof a distance approximately equal to the thickness of arecord, one of the members of a pair constituting a combined stop andclutching member for abutting engagement with the marginal top side ofthe uppermost record on the turntable to limit the downward travel ofthe spindle at the proper elevation for transferring such record and forimparting rotative movement to the spindle in one dirction from therotation of the engaged record, and the companion member constituting apick-up member adapted to enter between the record to be elevated andthat record immediately beneath it upon said clutching member engagingsuch record to be elevated, means operatively engageable with saidspindles for controlling their vertical movements and their rotation ina direction to present said members at predetermined times to and fromcooperative engagement with a record, and means operatively connectedwith said last-named means for rendering its rotative ac-' tioninoperative after the last record played has been elevated and duringthe lowering of the elevated stack onto the turntable.

16. In a phonograph, a turntable to receive a stack of records for play,a support disposed in overhead spaced relation to the turntable forreceiving and releasably retaining the records thereon as a stack afterplay, record elevating mechanism disposed in correlation with theturntable and overhead support for transferring the records individuallyafter play to said support and as a stack from the support to theturntable after the records have been played, said elevating mechanismincluding a plurality of spindles guided for vertical and rotativemove-' ments, a pair of members applied to each spindle and spacedaxially thereof a distance approximately equal to the thickness of arecord, one of the members of a pair constituting a combined stop andclutching member for" abutting engagement with the marginal top side ofthe uppermost record on the turntable to limit the downward travel ofthe spindle at the proper elevation for transferring such record and forimparting rotative movement to the spindle in one direction from therotation of the engaged record, and the companion member constituting apickup member adapted to enter between the record to be elevated andthat record immediately beneath it upon said clutching member engagingsuch record to be elevated, means operatively engageable with saidspindles for normally con-- trolling their vertical and rotativemovements during the successive transfer of the records from theturntable to the stack-support, and means correlated with saidspindle-controlling means for preventing rotation of said spindles

